If you think being a social smoker is better for you than smoking everyday, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you are absolutely kidding yourself.

“Social smokers were characterized as people who smoke intermittently in social situations such as bars or parties, not in solitude. The need for group acceptance drove social smokers to be well versed on entertainment figures, commercial trends, fashion, and popular brands of cigarettes. Advertising to social smokers positioned cigarettes as another consumer product that defined membership in a clique or crowd”

We all have that one friend who swears they only have the odd ciggie with a Chardonnay after a stressful day at the office, but end up finishing the whole packet before harrassing passersby for a “spare” one.

Why do we do it to ourselves? We can’t go blaming “fashion” or “membership to your clique”.

It’s not just something to do; it’s not just something to keep our hands busy; it’s not just because everyone else went out for one.

It’s addiction.

There is nothing remotely sexy about smoking. Not to mention the smell on another persons clothes and breath as they talk to you about how hard their week was.

I was once that guy. Never. Ever. Again.

It goes without saying that the effects of smoking – both short and long term – are known to the user. Taking the evil of all evils out of it (lung cancer), even after just one puff your heart will begin to beat faster and have your nervous system doing the Macarena.

Some will say “it’s not like I’m addicted, I just like the occasional smoke”. That’s fine to say (albeit a lie), but don’t think your lungs are being as blasé about it, because they are not.

Anyone who comes into contact with cigarettesmoke, either very little or a lot, is at risk of smoking related illnesses, no expections.

This includes passive smoking. It’s frightening that non-smokers who are exposed to your second-hand smoke have an increased risk of lung cancer. Even more frightening is that non-smokers who live with a smoker are 20-30% more likely to develop lung cancer.

It’s never too late to make the switch to vaping. Your friends will thank you for it, mostly because they’ll secretly enjoy it better than smoking from the first time they try it, but you will 100% notice a difference in your health and fitness levels.

Vapetrotter.com is the global resource for vape store locations and travel information, with over 37,000 vape stores listed in 106 countries, along with necessary travel information for anywhere on earth.